Hello to all.

I'm knew to the site. I recently purchased a 2000 GSR that had a fairly large crack in the windshield. i thought it could be repaired but it turns out i was wrong, it must be replaced. I've spent the past week researching on automotive glass replacement and the types of manufactures that are similar to OEM spec.

For the 2000 GSR and previous years AP Tech is the original manufacture for the windshield. which is roughly $700 with the Honda logo.. currently i have been having a very hard time finding an AP Tech glass replacement manufactured in USA without the Honda logo, this would be considered OEM if i'm not mistaken. The only other manufactures i would consider is Pilkington or PGW. Only because they are OEM manufactures for various automotive dealers, including Honda.

i could not find any info on this subject in any post or threads that are up to date for this specific car(integra) if there is, please point me in the right direction...

what i would like to know from all you 3rd gen integra owners is have you had your windshield replaced? what manufacture did you use? and if you did use PGW, Pilkington or AP Tech what are your thoughts on it?
i got a quote for $340 using PGW, $240 using Pilkington and $850 for dealership OEM. these are all different reputable shops that gave me the quotes with installation, i actually contacted Safelite to see if they could get a hold of AP Tech glass manufactured in USA, still waiting on there response.

Any info as to what manufacture has the best fit to this car would be much appreciated. Thank you..
forgot to mention my insurance does not cover OEM and i have a $500 deductable, it all coming out of the pocket for me

 

Update: SafeLite had just called me back. They do carry AP Tech glass (2 in Stock). the price for PGW, SafeLite, and AP Tech were all the same but they considered AP Tech and PGW to be OEM and SafeLite to be aftermarket. funny.... im about to order it up.. kinda odd that no local shops could get access to AP Tech glass. but maybe it because is a 16 year old car too.

 

update: This some BS!!! now SafeLite wont sell me the glass bc they say they just dont sell glass. the previous employee had told me that i buy it no problem now the second employee just told me i cant... It's no wonder they get bad reviews and being know for being unprofessional and they wonder why i dont want them to install my window hahah

 

OMG!!! per GM orders from SafeLite they do not sell glass anymore... losing sales..smart move GM. no wonder you suck!

 

so the only way i get that glass is if SafeLite they installs it.. not happening. back on a quest to find an AP Tech glass.

 

I need to replace my windshield as well and considered safe lite too. Did the online price thing and got a quote of $225 installed.

Are you wanting to install yourself?

 

I don't know why you guys are so concerned about who made the glass. That is the LEAST important part of any glass replacement; they're ALL acceptable quality.

The important parts of a glass replacement are these:
1) that all scrapes in the paint around the frame be patched with special glass primer prior to the new glass going in;
2) that the glass be ripple-free in your direct line of vision.

The first point has to do with rust. Unpatched scrapes will rust and will doom your car. If the glass place will not allow you to inspect the bare frame prior to new-glass install, then they are not trustworthy. Find somebody else.

As for the second point: ALL windshield glass (even the OE-branded stuff) is optically-defective somewhere. You want the optical defects to be off to the passenger side, and far away enough that you don't too-easily notice them while driving.

In order to detect the optical defects BEFORE the glass is bonded in place, you need to have the installer hold the glass by hand (while it's still on the glass-stand) at the exact installed angle, while you crouch down so that you are looking through the glass exactly as you will be once the glass is installed. Then you slowly bob-and-weave while looking in all directions in order to detect any ripples. If you're observant and careful enough, you should be able to detect any defects and be able to determine whether or not the glass will be annoying in daily use. If the defects are too close to your line of vision, reject that glass and ask for a new one to be delivered. A reputable shop will have no problem with this.

And, please, do not try and install a bonded windshield yourself. That is a really dumb idea.

 

No, ill leave it to the professionals to install it. It would be nice if all shops could have access to the same glass. One shop that has the glass i want but i dont trust their craftsmanship, and another shop has the glass i dont want but have are very reputable and trust worthy.

 

I agree, craftmanship is important. I did find the best possible shop i want to install my glass, my next step from that was trying to find the right glass to match. I've just read alot of problems with people that come across the glass not properly fitting right, But your right a good tech will point this out and reject it and not put it in and cover up the defects, I was just pissed that i couldnt find AP Tech glass anywhere. People say stay away from chinese glass, which CCC(chinese manufacture) manufactures this specific type of glass for the integra for Pilkington, and that PGW I heard was not as good as well. But either way this is good info TheRealTegger to take in consideration when a tech installs your glass.

 

Aside from OEM brand what would be the prefferred brand to use for the 3rd gen Integra? From ur experience

 

okay... found a reputable shop that can get access to AP Tech glass.. the search is over... ill def take the advice about looking over the frame befor installation of new glass.

 

You made the right choice. Safelite it no good, much less durable and usually more distorted than PGW or AP Tech.